What Does Jesus Look Like

The first time I saw Jesus, He was tucking me in bed

He didn't have a beard or any thorn-scars on His head

We said good-night and bedtime prayers and traded an embrace

Instead of what you might expect, He had my mother's face

Many times when I was sick He drove me in His car

He didn't count the trips or pay attention to how far

He didn't wear a robe, but blue jeans, and His shirt was plaid

His car and hat and jacket all belonged to my Grandad

In the doctor's office I felt scared and sad and small

And Nanny would read books to me until the nurse would call

Jesus hugged me tight and read to me to calm my fear

But it was Nanny's arms I'd feel and her voice I would hear

So often since, I've seen Him and He's never looked the same
But when I needed Him I prayed and waited and He came
I asked Him to use my hands, to come and work through me
So I can help somebody else but that it's Him they'll see

You Can Keep It

You dropped the ball
You failed your part
You didn't give your all
You didn't use your heart

You made the rules
That you didn't follow
You stayed with the fools
Till you became hollow

I carried the ball
I did more than my part
I gave my all
I got cut to the heart

I followed your rules
That now I will break
You stay with the fools
Trade the truth for a fake

You keep the ball
I'll make a new start
You take it all
I'm keeping my heart

Do Over

I should have left sooner
I should have stayed there
Whatever choice I make is always wrong

Why didn't I say something
Why didn't I shut up
Wherever I end up I don't belong

What makes me feel I have to do it all
Who says I have to answer every call
I want to do my part
I have to search my heart
I need to start over and I have to start small

Unsolvably Mysterious

You seem to think women are unsolvably mysterious
I can give you clues here honey since you seem so curious
Listen to me, think about it, rather than be furious
It's true sometimes we change our minds, be a man and let it be
Be strong enough to roll with the punches and just let me be me
You change your mind too, pay attention and you'll see
Boy, get a grip
Don't give me any lip

You complain we're in the bathroom so long with our showers
We've seen your attention caught by supermodels' powers
Do you think they look like that without spending hours
You think we should be ready anytime night or day
Dream on, but odds improve if you listen to what I say
Help her out, talk with her, sometimes try her way
Man, you might surprise her
Come out a little wiser

Love is more to us than one physical act
Respect, commitment, devotion, it's a never-hurt-you pact
It's forever and it's constant, not a feeling but a fact
Yeah it seems it's dangerous men that good girls all fall for
Strength and muscle turn us on, it's tough guys we adore
Use it to protect us, not to try to hurt us more
No we don't compete
Together we complete

Angel

Why so many feared her I could never comprehend
She brought deliverance and peace, I saw her as a friend

I'd watched for her and waited and I prayed that she would come
Though never knew when that might be, or where she would come from

She wrapped me up so warmly as I drew my final breath
That beautiful and welcome one, the angel who brought death

Division, Right Decision

Attention, affection, to stave off all contention
Devotion, emotion, exist for your promotion

Direction, perfection, and live out your intention
Ablution, solution, to pay your restitution

Intended, apprehended, but left there undefended
Insistence, resistance, refuse to go that distance

Insurrection, resurrection, there is no more genuflection
Disownment, alone meant you pay your own atonement

Somebody Save Me

Somebody save me I'm going insane
Somebody help stop the screams in my brain
There has to be some way to lessen the pain
Can anyone see through this mask
I don't know whom it's safe to ask

Somebody save me I'm losing my mind
Everybody seems to have an axe to grind
They ask me for answers that I just can't find
Will somebody give me your hands
I don't have the strength life demands

Somebody save me I'm out of my head
I don't know what's true from the trash I've been fed
Now I'm surrounded by a wall of dread
Tell me what I'm supposed to do
Who will betray me and who will be true

Hero

When I hang out with all my friends
I'm everyone's hero
But all too soon the party ends
And I am left alone
The devastation comes again
The darkness makes it worse
When no one's there to sense my pain
When no one feels my hurt
I'm there to help each hurting friend
Strong when they are weak
I always give the counsel
And the comfort that they seek
But who's there when I'm on the ground
Who's there to comfort me
When I feel myself going down
Who will my hero be

1990

Oh, Me

Don't you remember all the dreams you had
Where in the world did they go so bad
Why is it so hard now to feel glad
I wish I knew
I miss the old you

Oh, Me, what happened to you
What did you do
That made you lose faith in life and love
Oh, Me, where did you go
What do you know that changed your mind so
I've looked for you everywhere I can think of

Do you remember you dreamed that life could be fun
Didn't matter if there was rain or sun
Why does it always seem you're under the gun
I miss good days
I want the old ways

Oh, Me, no I don't want to live in the past
I want today, along with happiness that will last
Oh, Me, I just want to be you again
I want the spark, the joy that you had back then

Oh I remember how your hope was so bright
Your plans for the future used to feel so right
Somehow I'm going to find the same light
I want you back
Cut me some more slack

Mama's Baby

You are my heart outside my chest
I've made mistakes but I did my best
If you only take one thing from all your years with me
This is what I would want it to be
Even before you were given birth
You had countless unending worth
I so wish I could give you more
More love, skills, wealth, and wisdom before you leave my door
Abandon all the thoughts of guilt that keep you from the sky
Forgive yourself and others too, you'll help yourself to fly
Consider and dismiss when someone judges what you do
Do the things you know are right, to thine own self be true
I am proud of you whether you're quiet, calm, or wild
Nothing can stop Mama's love for you, you'll always be my child

Mourn the Little Girl

Ponytails and pale pink dress, lace around the neck and arms
Rosy cheeks and she's no less than all of innocence' sweet charms
How could she know she was the prey dancing in the middle of harm's way
Then she's told that she's to blame, mourn the little girl in shame

Blazing eyes and pouty lips, curses pouring out like mad
Little hands upon her hips, why is that little girl so bad
She hates her life but cannot tell because of threats that he will kill
She acts her fear out into rage, mourn the little girl on stage

Career women, mothers, wives, search for safety but cannot trust
Battle to save their inner lives, what is love and what is lust
Where is a mother to cry for her end, father protect, avenge, defend
Will a man believe her heart is pure, mourn the little girls they were

unknown

purple anger, stale regret
apologies I never met
a steady path without an end
familiar face but not a friend
unknown voices, repeated theme
deja vu inside a dream
chilly memories, yellow pain
clockwise but against the grain
static dry emotion state
absent karma, fortune, fate
quest for peace is worthless now
not a promise, not a vow
cynical, I watch the dance
there's no danger in a chance
immune to enchant or charm
remains to only do no harm
corners never fit to round
not lost but then never found
logic none can understand
same agenda never planned
moderation in extreme
deadly toxic silent scream
buried treasure deep in earth
desperate to be given birth
desperate also to remain
safe in shelter from the rain

Hated

I know they say a lot about me when I'm not around
When I walk into the room nobody makes a sound
I've asked and talked and cried and prayed and tried to make amends
Apologized and watched my mouth, why can't we all be friends
They tell me there's no problem and the problem lies with me
Which statement shall I accept as truth because they can't both be
It stands to reason I can't change what's wrong if I don't know
There's not a thing that I can do but watch their hatred grow
To one who should defend me I asked what can I do
He said they need someone to hate, I don't know why but they chose you
Each day I fail to measure up stretches out to years
While they continue blaming me for everybody's tears
How long till the unfounded anger toward me is abated
How long must I go on pretending I don't know I'm hated

A Thousand Butterflies

One thousand bright live butterflies are trapped inside of me
They would look so beautiful if anyone could see
They're hostage to an unknown foe whose ransom can't be paid
Imprisoned by mistakes I didn't realize I had made
So few know that they exist that I am left alone
To try to free the butterflies from prison on my own

In my heart are great things I could do or learn or say
But lack the strength to do because I gave too much away
I failed to use good judgment while I thought that I'd done right
And now don't know if this would be a battle worth the fight
If the butterflies were set free would anybody care
Or should I just give up and let the butterflies die there